By the time the season ended, three Change.org petitions had called for the shows cancellation, drawing a total of 3,000 supporters from the U.S., Europe, South America, Australia, and across West Africa. Season 1 Ep 12. I got a chance to talk with the pair about how the show came about, how they feel about those that accuse them of faking and what their wives really think of what theyre doing. There were more tweets during our reruns that Sunday [during a Season 1 marathon] than we got all of last year. We really liked the people of Ghana, the people we worked with. For instance, the men boasted of paying farmers 10 times their annual wages to mine on their farmland. Proof: https://twitter.com/JungleGeorgeVI/status/365907125215576064 https://twitter.com/JungleGoldScott/status/365907460332068864, Edit: We are going to keep this open. I can say this, the head guy on Gold Rush hates us and we don't know why? But the incident changed the dynamic in the village. Jarred by the response, Wright and Lomu responded to many of them, trying to clarify any misunderstandings. We have estimated George Wright's net worth, money, salary, income, and assets. Whose the stupid ones ? Heres Our Review Of Cocaine Bear: Oh Hell Yes! If anyones going to make money from gold digging here (other than corrupt officials, thieves and the Chinese government), they at least have a shot. She was crying hysterically. As the coastline faded in the distance, Wright leaned across the aisle. George: I think this all would have ended a long time ago had our wives and our children, and even extended family and close friends, not been so supportive. We thought we could explain any misunderstandings to the government, Wright said. We have a full Biography, Photos, Theatre Credits, and more! WHEN two Mormons from Utah signed up to star in a reality show about gold mining in Ghana, they had no idea what they were getting into. Wright, 32, a mixed martial arts enthusiast with long blonde hair and piercing blue eyes, grew up in California before moving to Utah at 16. Invigorated by this new prospect, the three men invested in a small-scale operation near the mining town of Obuasi, a four-hour drive from Accra, and took turns traveling to Ghana over the next three months. One of the biggest lessons weve learned is dealing with people. The two are former American real estate investors who lost everything in the 2008 market collapse, and are now over $1,000,000 in debt. Messrs Lomu and Wright starred in the popular television show Jungle Their timing was perfect. (George: 100 duck sized horses for sure, Scott: 1 duck sized horse) (Will do videos for Karma), Jungle Gold on Discovery Channel this Sunday's 10/9c after Breaking Bad on AMC. For former real-estate entrepreneurs, George Wright & Scott Lomu, the answer was Ghana. George Wright have accepted positions as members of the Companys But Raw believed they could meet the challenges of filming a gold-mining operation in Ghana; in the Season 1 synopsis, they noted that their contributors would be paragons of responsible mining. Discovery, which had green-lit the show in March, had insisted Wright and Lomu hire locals, replant cocoa crops on mined land, and abide by the rules of Ghanas Environmental Protection Agency. At the time, Ghana, Africas second-largest gold producer behind South Africa, was in the midst of a modern-day gold rush. In April 2013, it premiered on Ghanaian TV. When the United States Navy SEALs killed bin Laden during the operation, they captured a prize far greater and more valuable [], Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), on Discovery announces limited-run Gold Rush spinoff series, on Discovery special presents details on classified bin Laden intel, http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1124.html, Discovery announces limited-run Gold Rush spinoff series, Discovery Channels Alaskan Bush People recap: A Wolfpack Divided, Discovery special presents details on classified bin Laden intel, Single Ladies Decide if Country Livin is for Them in Farmer Wants a Wife. At the time, Wright and Lomu brawny, clean-living Mormons from Utah were in the midst of shooting Jungle Golds second season. That February, 5 million people watched the Season 2 finale of Gold Rush, continuing its two-year run as the most-watched cable show on Friday nights. The next few years were good for Wright and Lomu, who often exchanged tips about real estate deals. His optimistic nature notwithstanding, Lomu saw more cause for hope in Ghanas relationship to Mormonism. What was the viewer reaction following the season premiere of Jungle Gold? But like gold miners throughout history, a mixture of delusion, pioneering instinct, and financial desperation drove them to it. But once again, the cost of equipment and labor exceeded the meager amount of gold they found. The production team swore to take a different approach to the second series. This season, Scott and George have family money on the line in the form of an investment from Scotts father-in-law and a new colleague, Dave Thomas, as they had back to Ghana looking for enough gold to pay off the debts and secure their families futures. We didnt exploit anyone, Lomu told me. Did Ghana ever try to arrest you two as indicated in this article on Ghana Web? Watching the videos, I got the sense that Wright and Lomu, regretful over Jungle Gold, were trying to redeem themselves by portraying Guyana in a flattering light. The entire landscape of the mining industry over the last year has changed dramatically, and so we encountered a lot this season. But where? Despite their failures, the pair remain hopeful for the future. When season two of Jungle Gold aired in August 2013, it flopped, competing with NFL for ratings. The Guyana operation was expanding, and Mishleau valued Wright and Lomus years of mining experience in Ghana. Youre doing this all for your families. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Whether the Information Services Department had instructed Raw to seek the commissions approval is unclear; the permit protocol for foreign documentary film crews in Ghana was somewhat vague in 2012. When I asked what he and others had made of the predominantly white film crew in their midst, he shot me a confused look. ", "The stage is being set for a redemptive second season of Jungle Gold., Your weekday morning guide to breaking news, cultural analysis, and everything in between, This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google. #Colonialism, good job discovery channel youve made a reality show about the rape and theft of african natural resources #junglegold #kinglepold. Onscreen, an overweight guy with a wizardly goatee was struggling to fix the motor of an excavator. Consumed with other business, hed all but forgotten about Raw. Building Element United to lead the mining industry to a profitable + sustainable future. Is it worth all the effort and danger youre going through? Meanwhile, the pressure is on the boys to secure a wood-burning stove so the family can stay warm over winter. It was a typical move: Ghana, formerly the Gold Coast, was one of the earliest African countries to declare its independence from colonial rule in 1957. They hoped early struggles would lead to large profits by the end of the 10-episode run, benefiting . You would make a good politician though, you could go cry with Speaker of the House John Boehner about how tough it is to support your trophy wife. I am guessing season two would have already been recorded when this article came out. (Raw declined to comment on the incident.) The Minerals Commission claimed the crew had pushed ahead without adequate permissions and secretly asked the countrys National Security Agency to investigate them, fearing a stampede of greedy foreign miners, according to Buzzfeed. We hope it's a win-win. Laborers were shown polluting water bodies with mercury, which is used to recover gold from other minerals. Hes a gentleman whos a land broker. But the sight of two white guys standing by as a half-dozen Ghanaians labored in the heat created a disquieting visual reminder of Ghanas years as a British colony. G: Oh man if Scott sees this, he's gonna have hay day on this question. I personaly found it entertaining and interesting. George Wright has been appointed as Vice President of Public Relations and. But none of them seemed In many ways, the cast and crew reminded Tay of the Chinese miners, whod come to the area three years earlier and boosted demand for taxis, food, clothing, and bottled water. is that truth, are they gone? The series chronicles the continuing efforts of former real-estate dealers George Wright and Scott Lomu as they mine for gold in Ghana in an attempt to pay off the over $1 million debt they face in the wake of the real-estate crash. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has over 62,000 members in Ghana, the second-highest membership in Africa behind Nigeria. The first thing George and I thought when we landed in Ghana was, "I thought WE had problems". Despite the possibility of work in Accra, hed stayed in Fahiakobo after the cast and crew fled, guarding the stars tent and praying for their return. Season 1. George Wright and Scott Lomu of Discoverys Jungle Gold (Sundays at 10:00 p.m. They were told by the Information Services Department that an arrest warrant had never officially been issued. Viewers were shocked that Americans would broadcast illegal mining, and activists claimed throwing money at people unused to financial decision-making was a mistake. They whine at how poor they are, yet no wife works (the husbands hardly do either) they live in big mansions, drive fancy cars? Additionally, Mr. Lomu has been appointed as Chairman of the Companys What do they think of this? BOOM! Sitting on the compounds couch, Wright watched in shock as the clip of him choking the cocoa farmer aired on national television. _________________________________________, Scott Lomu, George Wright and Dave Thomas of Jungle Gold: Credit Discovery Channel, The money was given to Dave so they could mine that land,I even think it a bit suspicious that he walked away Scott free and no-one says anything, Really enjoyed watching but what about the money they gave to Dave Thomas are they not wanting it back,after all it wasnt their money it was the father in laws. But they soon discovered a more viable option: gold mining. A couple of years ago, Utah Valley residents Scott Lomu, 37, and George Wright, 29, decided to investigate after Lomu's father-in-law, who had explored the booming Ghanaian gold market himself . The reality stars of Jungle Gold on the Discovery Channel (DStv 121) face fines, arrest and even possible imprisonment over charges of alleged brutality and illegal mining in Ghana, with the Ghanaian government which now wants to see Scott Lomu and George Wright apprehended and arrested. We were like, This is the kind of operation we want to be a part of! Lomu said. Nevertheless, the district officer demanded Raw visit the Minerals Commissions headquarters in Accra before they continued filming. Lomu and Macias had been best friends growing up; as a teenager, Lomu had baptized him into the Mormon church. The Mormons and their production team had paid a village chief $12,500 to mine a large plot of land, but they arrived to find it packed with Chinese miners. I guess this is what your generation who grew up in a fancy world is all about. Based on the interview, My Joy Online, Joy FMs heavily trafficked website, published two short but searing articles about Jungle Gold on May 9 and May 10. Oh my word, they think I killed him, he said. Not everyone celebrated their departure. Villagers routinely set up roadblocks and demanded hundreds of dollars to pass. Tall, handsome, and half-Polynesian, he studied business at Arizona State University and did his Mormon mission in Indianapolis. Theyd spent the past year trying to dramatize their daily lives for the cameras. Ready to get to work in Africa!, Jungle Gold may have enraged Ghanaian ex-pats and officials, but it was a hit with Americas 1849-year-old demographic. That supports been really the lifeblood in this entire operation. Bering Sea Gold, a new offshoot, was averaging 3 million viewers a night. In Jungle Gold, Discovery Channel's hit reality series, George Wright and Scott Lomu try their best to climb out of a mountain of debt.Their loyal families wait at home while the two toil away in Ghana, hoping to strike gold and solidify their financial futures. He later learned Macias had become dependent on pain medication due to injuries he suffered in a roadside bomb attack. Todd Hoffman, Tony Beets, and Parker Schnabel in Gold Rush. Sat 30 Apr PG-VL. It looked like their foray into mining was over until they stumbled across Discoverys Alaskan mining reality show, Gold Rush. But for those thinking that theyre bad actors or are, worse, faking the drama, they have an offer for you come to visit them in Ghana for a few days. At the moment I jumped in, he was right over [our security guard] and was going to push his head underwater. Lomu couldnt believe what he was seeing. Desperate for cash, he recruited two men he thought would make enthusiastic gold dealers. One day in Ghana is more dramatic than this entire freaking episode!. What is behind the allure of gold mining? Content Rating. Obviously, wed appreciate it if the gold prices were higher, always; however, were still feeling very good about the price of gold today. A decade later, Mormonisms rapid growth and displays of wealth led the Ghanaian government to ban all Mormon activities, suspecting the church was a front for the CIA. After rainstorms, locals with nothing else to do had taken to searching the gutters for specks of gold. He earned the money being a professional American Football Player. Not that Id recommend it, but theyre pretty sure they can school any critics. George Wright and Scott Lomu will risk it all to strike it rich as part of a golden plan to recover from losing everything in the real estate crash of 2008. The kids autism is just another excuse for the idiot to stop working and run home. (Both Discovery Channel and Raw, which was acquired by Discovery in 2014, declined to comment for this story.). As reggae music jingles in the background, Wright pans his GoPro across the sunny streets of Georgetown, Guyanas capital, remarking on its laid-back Caribbean vibe. Most of the times one of the celebrity is famous and then because of him/her, other members get famous as well. G: Good question, for us this was nothing more than the right opportunity at the right time. When Lomu suggested removing the miners by force, a chief replied: If you attempt it, they will kill you! The crew captured everything on film and loved it. Maybe Utah poor is different to my poor. We were in panic mode. Wright found work translating Spanish for an Arizona-based equipment supplier bidding for contracts in Colombias mining sector. The robbery scene was intense but definitely felt like the video was pulled off a little too well. They were convinced theyd be arrested at the airport and imprisoned. It was time to bail out. The Chinese miners remained on the site, and Lomu forfeited the money he paid for it. I thank my parents. Jed Lipinski is a staff writer for NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune in New Orleans. A rosy conclusion to Season 1 looked unlikely. Now Wright and Lomu are the stars When the market fails where do you go? In 2009, Macias was working as a private security contractor in Afghanistan, but hed grown tired of war zones. He went to a meeting but he'll be back I'm sure. He was still there when I showed up six months later. But no such vehicles arrived. It was January 2011, and Lomu had stumbled onto the first season of Gold Rush, a Discovery Channel reality show that follows three men from Oregon as they mine for gold in Alaska. Two guys lose their shirts when the real estate bubble bursts and decide to do the logical thing hunt for gold in Ghana! Lomu and Macias worked construction for a Mormon homebuilder in Utah. 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